Republic Day tractor rally: SC says it won’t pass orders

A three-justice bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday informed the attorney general and solicitor general that it would not pass orders on a plea from the Delhi Police, seeking strictures against a planned tractor rally by protesting farmers on January 26.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta asked if the issue could be considered on January 25.

Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde was quoted by Live Law as saying, “We have told that it is for the police to decide. We won’t pass the orders. We will allow you to withdraw this application. You are the authority. You decide.”

The Supreme Court allowed the Delhi Police to withdraw its application, seeking orders against the tractor rally.

Farmers’ unions protesting against the Centre’s farm laws had called for a tractor rally to coincide with Republic Day celebrations.

The bench led by Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde comprised Justices L.N. Rao and Vineet Saran. The bench had on Monday noted the proposed tractor rally was a “law and order” matter and Delhi Police is the first authority to decide who should be allowed to enter the national capital.

The Centre had sought an injunction against the proposed tractor rally. The Centre, in an application filed through Delhi Police, has said that any proposed march or protest that seeks to disrupt and disturb the Republic Day celebrations will cause an embarrassment to the nation.

On January 12, the top court had stayed the implementation of the contentious new farm laws till further orders and constituted a committee to make recommendations to resolve the impasse over them between the Centre and farmers’ unions protesting at Delhi borders.